Spring driven traffic counter

ABSTRACT

A register driven by a spring motor produces a half count for each pulse from a pneumatic tube by means of a pneumatically driven escapement mechanism.

Unitedv States Patent Trigg et a1; 2

[54] SPRING DRIVEN-TRAFFIC COUNTER [72] Inventors: Harry E. 'lrlgg; Luther W. Mitchell,

both of Hampton, Va. [7 3] Assignee: International Transportation Service Corporation, Hampton, Va. [22] Filed: Jan. 3,1972

[21] Appl. No.: 214,910 V 52 US. Cl. ..23s/99 A, 235/92 TC 51 1111.01. ..G06m 1/08 58 1 Field of Search "us/99A, 99 R, 92 TC [56] I I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,334,143 11/1943 Bdsquin et al.; .,....23s /99 A [is] 3,707,264 [451 Dec. 26, 1972 2,547,937 4/1951 Hall ..235/99 A 3,621,207 11/1971 Bass ..235/92 TC FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary E/caminer-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney-Carroll B. Quaintance et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A register driven by a'spring motor produces a half count for each pulse from a pneumatic tube by means of a pneumatically driven escapement mechanism.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures j 8/1960 France ..235/99 A PATENTED DEC 2 6 I372 FIG-4 SPRING DRIVEN TRAFFIC COUNTER FIELD OF INVENTION Registers, Platform Operated. I PRIOR ART Hall US. Pat. No. 2,547,937; Basquim et al. US. Pat. No. 2,334,143. 1

'OBJECTS' Pneumatic hose-actuated traffic counters have been widely used, but, so far as is known, they have utilized electric means for actuating the counter mechanism,

usually a switch closed by a pneumatic pulse, and an electrical circuit for'actuating a solenoid which, in turn, steps a counter. Since traffic counters may be installed at locations remote from power sources,-those that are electrically driven require batteries, and the batteries must be maintained or replaced, and this is oftentimes not economical or convenient. The object now is to provide a traffic counter capable of a large number of counts, and which can be easily maintained by occasional winding, i.e., a spring-driven counter.

Platform or treadle operated registers or counters have been used for many years but, so far as is known, these counters have been positively driven by the platform or treadle, and this requires the application of sufficient force to actuate the counter and,. generally, some uniformity between the forces which actuate the treadle or platform or mechanical safeguards against overloading. The object now is to provide an extremely sensitive traffic counter, and one which responds similarly to each actuating, even though the actuation by vehicles of different size and different distances away from the counter, and which is positive, sure and quick under all operating conditions. To this end, it is intended to provide a spring driven counter, wherein the spring is capable of driving the counter to itsfull reading, 99,999 for example, and wherein the spring motor is let off by an escapement mechanism for a rotational distance equal to one-half of one count for each pneumatic impulse.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the traffic counter in typical location;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the counter;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2', and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the traffic counter 2 is actuated by a pneumatic hose 4 stretched across a roadway 6. Usually the counter is chained to a tree or post 8 to deter unauthorized removal. The counter is contained within a hollow cylindrical casing 10 in which is supported a register 12 whose number wheels 14 are visible through a window 16. This is a standard register, or wheel counter, whose wheels denote units, tens, hundreds, etc., and in this instance the register will count up to 99,999.

The register shaft 18 is driven by a spring motor 20. Usable for this purpose is a standard '400-day clock movement whose spring shaft 22 is accessible for windmg through pivoted door 24. Extending across the mterior of casing 10 is a platform 26 supported on a closure member 28v which is suitably sealed across the open end of casing 10 as by O-rings 29. -In platform 26 is a c ylinder 30 in which slides a piston 32 having a head 33 which engages a double pawl 34, which pawl is pivoted as at 36 to a bracket 38 on platform 26. The arms of pawl 34 engage a 20 tooth rachet wheel 40, this mechanism constituting an escapement mechanism 42 which lets off the register shaft 18 an angular distance equal to one-half a unit count for each actuation of piston 32. This piston is actuated by air pulses conducted through a tube 44 to which airtube 4 is connected by a nipple 46. Thus, when the front wheels of a vehicle pass over pneumatic tube 4, spring motor 20 is permitted to drive register shaft 18 for a distancesufficient to drive the units wheel of the register half a units distance and, when the rear wheels of the vehicle pass over the pneumatic tube, the spring motor 20 drives the register shaft 18 another one half units distance, so that ten automobiles passing over pneumatic hose 4 will cause a ten count on register 12.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a return spring (not shown) can be provided for piston 32, that the pawl can be actuated by a diaphragm rather than the piston mechanism shown, that a suitable printout mechanism can be provided for register 12, and any one of numerous other escapements can be used. I

I claim:

1. A traffic counter comprising a casing,

a register in said casing, said register having number wheels and a shaft for driving the same,

a spring motor in said casing drivingly connected to the register shaft,

an escapement mechanism connected to said register shaft,

a pneumatic hose connected to said casing and adapted to be extended across a roadway, and means responsive to air pulses in said pneumatic hose for actuating said escapement mechanism thereby permitting said spring motor to drive said register shaft a predetermined angular distance per each air pulse in said hose.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, said escapement mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel on said shaft and a double pawl pivotally supported in said casing so as to embrace said ratchet wheel.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, the means for actuating said escapement mechanism comprising a piston reciprocating in a cylinder, said cylinder being connected to said pneumatic hose. 

1. A traffic counter comprising a casing, a register in said casing, said register having number wheels and a shaft for driving the same, a spring motor in said casing drivingly connected to the register shaft, an escapement mechanism connected to said register shaft, a pneumatic hose connected to said casing and adapted to be extended across a roadway, and means responsive to air pulses in said pneumatic hose for actuating said escapement mechanism thereby permitting said spring motor to drive said register shaft a predetermined angular distance per each air pulse in said hose.
 2. The combination claimed in claim 1, said escapement mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel on said shaft and a double pawl pivotally supported in said casing so as to embrace said ratchet wheel.
 3. The combination claimed in claim 2, the means for actuating said escapement mechanism comprising a piston reciprocating in a cylinder, said cylinder being connected to said pneumatic hose. 